Hamburg steak patty forming machine



T'. s. ELSAE'SSER HAMBURG STEAK PATTY FORMTNG MACHINE May 30, 1950 3 Shets-Sheet l Filed May 1l, 1945 m. w m m fm1/r s. ELS/msm May 30, 1950 F. s; ELsAEssER HAMBURG STEAK PATTY FORMTNG MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May ll, 1945 ,log

May 30, 1959 F. s. ELsAEssER 2,509,971

HAMBURG STEAK PATTY F'ORMING MACHINE Filed May ll, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented May 30, 1950 HAMBURG STEAK PATTY FORMING MACHINE Frank S. Elsaesser, Cincinnati, Ohio Application May 11, 1945, Serial No. 593,285

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in Hamburg steak forming machines and particularly to a machine for forming the patty, as used in cooking or frying the same.

This invention is an improvement on applicants co-pending application Serial No. 582,331, led March 12, 1945.

Machines for this purpose have been made in the past but were in the main impractical since no adequate means were provided to prevent the meat from adhering to the forming parts of the machine, or the process was so slow in operation as to be uneconomical to use. Other machines required the handling of heavy parts such as a feed cylinder from which the so-called, ground meat was fed to the patty forming parts.

The machine of this invention obviates all of these diiiiculties resulting in a machine that rapidly produces Hamburg steak patties as well as other meat patties such as country style pork sausage, and the like.

The machine of this invention is semi-automatic in nature in that it automatically positions the paper and folds same relative to the ground meat instead of requiring these operations to be performed manually so that the Hamburg steak patty is adequately covered by paper as is customary.

It is therefore the main object of this invention to provide a machine to produce meat patties such as are used in Hamburg steak, which requires the operator merely to place the required amount of ground meat on the machine.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a machine that will accomplish the above object and which is of simple construction and can be operated by inexperienced operators.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a meat patty forming machine in which the patties are expeditiously produced and in which sanitation is attained in an economical manner.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a Hamburg steak patty forming machine in which the paper arranging mechanism sem the rate of production and insures a continuous operation of the machine without the patties crowding one another.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention should be readily apparent by reference 1f to the following specication considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming part thereof and it is to be understood that any modifications may be made in the exact structural details there shown and described, within 55 the scope of the appended claims, without departing from or exceeding the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying the principles of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view of a portion of the machine taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 'I-'I of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken through a portion of the machine on line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 9--9 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of a portion of the machine showing the paper feeding actuating mechanism as seen from line lll-I [l on Fig. l.

Fig. 11 is a senil-diagrammatic view illustrating the action of the machine.

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modification in the structure thereof.

Throughout the several views of the drawings,

similar reference characters are employed to denote the same or similar parts.

The machine of this invention will find its principal use in restaurants, dining rooms and like establishments which feature or serve Hamburg steak or Hamburgers as they are popularly called. It has been found that Hamburg steak patties can be formed on this machine at a rate requiring but a single attendant that formerly needed three and four persons and that the patties are of uniform physical properties, that is of the same area, thickness and density whereas formerly each maker developed his own technic which resulted in variations of these properties, Wherefore, the resulting cooked Hamburg steaks were of different degrees of being done.

The machine comprises a table member IE supported in any suitable or desirable manner as by legs l. Intermediate its ends the table l5 is provided with an opening Il of a size to receive a drum or pulley I3. The pulley I8 is secured to a shaft l 9 rotatably mounted in bearings and 2|, respectively, located one on each side of the opening Il. Partially encircling the pulley I8 is a belt 22 made of flexible Inaterial and adapted to be washed or otherwise cleaned from time to time. The belt 22 is a conveyor belt for conveying the meat to and through a mashing unit or patty former.

The conveyor belt 22 partially encircles a second drum or pulley 23,y located some distance-- from the pulley I8, for example as shown in the 1U drawings, at one end of the table l5 in a recess 24 provided in said table therefor. It should be' understood that instead of the recess2ll at. the.4 end of the table, an opening similar to opening;` I1, could be provided in the table for the said pulley 23 and conversely the opening; I'I maybe formed as a recess at the end of the table.. The pulley 23 is secured to a shaft 25 rotatably mounted in bearings 25 and 2 secured "tothe, table, respectively, one on `each side of the recess 24.-- Theends ofthe belt...22.are.joined..to.one l anothery lto make fit an endless conveyor` .andthisjoining may be accomplished in any suitableror-4 desirable manner. As illustrated inthedrawings, the. `joining is effected .b5/providing each. end .of the belt with projecting..metal..,loops28."and29, which. interleaf..toform a 4passageway. through which a pin passes. By this construction,.th'e.-- ends -.of.. ther-belt. .may be .f readilfy .separated 'and the belt removed from the .machine-for-Washing or otherwise cleaning.

The bearings25and .321. are utilized to-supply the belt 22with the necessary tension andLto.. take-.up-,any-slack ,that-may .develop therein. To" accomplish this the bearing b'r-ackets..26..and.2'| areeacnprovided .with elongatedapertures. BI and 52 through which the mountingbolts- 33y pass and .whereby .the brackets .with-.their-.shaft 25 may be adjusted toward and from the shaft I 9.

The idrumorI pulley I8 -is .the driving .pulleyior the conveyorbelt-z-and has its-shaftY I94 .pro-1, jecting beyond one side of the table I5 to have. secured-thereto4 a-pulley Sltabout .which--passes transmission belt 35.` The transmission,.beltl35.v also passes aroundpulley fsecured to one end-.of '45 intermediate#Y shaft 3l.. The `intermediate ,shaft.-- 31 isrotatably ,-;mounted ina .bracket 33-5shown.- as-fsecured to :the-underside of the. table -I5 fand depending therefrom.. Securedto the other V.end ofthe-:intermediate shaft Slis a pulley 35i-having 50 extending therearound .a vtransmission. -beltl- 55.. This-:transmission -bel-t. 5- also extends-around thedriving-,pulley 4I on themotorshaft' ft2-fof. electric motor 43. It will be notedthatthefpule le-ys areszof'different diametersewhich,isfOrthe 55 purpose of -reducing the speed of drum-or-pu1ley. I8 from .that of. motor G3 and it. should lbe noted i that-.- any otherfjspeed reducing transmission dee vice: may-be `arranged between the idriving' motor. and said'conveyor belts-driving pulley or fdrum.

It-will be noted thatthe conveyor ubelt-driving pulley 'IS andthe-drivenfpulleyg23fare mounted-fto be tangent tothe table top-wherefore,-Y the.v upper layer. yoir-.reach of the conveyor .beltfmoves i along the said table topn Near'the-drivenfdrunr oiepulley '23 .fthef' conveyor bel-t 22V passesbeneath.A l theA m'ashin'g- 1 orrflattening `mechanism indicated infgeneral bythe reference numeral iii.-- This.'- mashing or flattening mechanism gives the final-fv shape-on fcrmeitofthe Hamburg steals-patty.,

Themashing or :flattening mechanism 44 com-- prisesfsidermembers l5-and llfspaced from one.. another adistanceto permit a paper :sheet -'lf to :pass betweenfthem. Rotatablymountedv inthe side members 45 Vand "sa near l.Ytheir-frfmt I'Yendsf.

\ mission belt '15'E.-.-

and some distance above the conveyor belt 22, is a shaft i6 having secured to it a drum or pulley t9. The masher side members 45 and 46 near their rear ends also have rotatably mounted therein a shaft 5G, which has secured to it a drum or pulley 5I. It will be noted, particularly from Fig. 4, that the shaft is located much nearer the conveyor belt than shaft 58. Extending around the drums or pulleys'S and 5I is a belt 52,- madeendless by joining the ends thereof to one another through the usual belt lacing comprising metal loops 53 and 5d extending respectivel-y--from-.each 4.end of the belt 52 toward the other and "interleaved to form a passageway through which a connecting pin 55 passes. By tli-isfconetr-uction the said belt 52 may be removed. fromthe-masher mechanism for cleaning and or replacement purposes as can the conveyor Lbelti 22.

rlhe drum or pulley 49 is the driving pulley while :the :drum or pulley,` 5I -is `the-.dr-i-ven-or --idler pulley-for vvhich-..reasonV the shaftfof pulley-549i" entends beyond the masher side and-has secured-fto it a .pulley 55 partially;encircled-'by a-transr The Ytransmission-belt-V 5T` also partially ,encircles second pulley 5 3 on -theshaf-t- I9 of the conveyor belt driving=-pulley,-'|8.- The; transmission belt pulleys 56 and 5IiiareV off such diameter-'that the belts 22-and-` 52 :have-the same-f:

layer vor'rea'ch ofr-conveyorbelt -22 isc-directly be-- low and'iopposed to 'the `bottoni layer-'or reach 'of masher beltA 52.? Thesebelt layersrorfreaches' areto itravell in the `same' direction; that is.. from-.-

f leftto'right, as seen'inf'the drawings wherefore;4

thel transmission-:belt 5I is twisted', Vas seen in e Figstl andf-Z,Vv causing-the shaft- IQvftoz-rotate clockwise-and. the :shaft 3 to rotate: counterclockwiser" Asfnoted 'above and'l can .be .seenztfrom--Fig-.143-1 the shaft da is a greaterdistance from;belt-a22ftha-ni the shaft T55 therebyproviding-.a 'contracting throat which constitutes theiA masher orflattening chamber withthe--final thickness orV thinness-of' the Hamburg steak I determined by -thespacebee Y tween-'belts 22Y1-and 52f'fat the point-where thee.- belt'52'passes around the-lowest point of the drum. or pulley 5! and this point is indicated-1inthey drawings bythe reference character: 59:

Theoperation of the masher 44 is as follows:

The conveyor belt 22 fcarriesl--a-quantityfotgroundmeat Linto theV largeV end .ofA the mashing or flatteningycharnber and 'the' ground meat-is engaged `on it's upper sideby the `'belt-52; which being.A-driven,y assists in" movingthe said meat through the-chamber: Since the.isaidcbelts-i-ZZ.Y and 52- -graduallyvconverge toward -one another,- theimeat islikewise reduced in lthickness untilthe narrowest pointn59 -of the Achamber lis reached--V whereupon the driven or idler drum-5I completes-'- the-flattening'of the ground meat `intopatty-,- ready for cooking. The original quantityof--- ground meat that entered the flattening chamber was the 'right amount -to producel the desired f Hamburg' steak.4

Thefmasher mechanism Mis secured in place-v by a pair of brackets and 5I respectively,=con necting the front ends of side-.members `45---and- 46- to the-tabletop I5 and by brackets 52 and 63 which respectively,- securev therearends yoffsaid` side-members to the tabletop. The front brackets.vv i are permanently secured to the table and have apivotal :connection at.k Iii!V YandV 65 with-their-re--- spective side members, Whilethe brackets 52"and-- BS-areflikewisefpermanently secured'to the table-- and they have an adjustable connection at 6B and 61 with their side members. This adjustable connection consisting of a slot in each bracket 62 and 63 through each of which passes a clamp bolt 68. From this it will be seen that the exit throat 59 of the masher chamber may be varied in thickness by adjusting the masher mechanism about the pivots 64 and 65 to raise or lower the drum or pulley 5I relative to the conveyor belt 22.

In order to eifect the mashing or flattening of the meat as it passes through the masher chamber,l the lower portion of the belt 52 is backed up by a pressure board or buckboard 69. The pressure board 69 may be mounted in position through wings 10 and 1I respectively, projecting from the sides thereof and having passing therethrough, into the masher side members 45 and 46, bolts 12. By providing the pressure board wings 1I) and 1I, with elongated apertures 13 for the bolts 12 the pressure board 69 may be adjusted toward and from the conveyor belt 22.

The quantity of ground meat used to make a Hamburg steak is usually measured out by a scoop similar to the well known ice cream scoop and is placed on a piece of prepared paper, that is, paper generally rendered moistureproof and is then covered with a second piece of similar paper. The size of the papers used is such that it completely covers the flattened or mashed Hamburg steak patty and it is between these papers that the meat extends while passing be tween the belts 22 and 52.

In the above identified application use is made of a single paper which both underlies the Hamburg steak patty and covers it and which paper is arranged relative to the ground meat by manual methods. It was found that this method of covering the meat is cumbersome and somewhat laborious and the following method and apparatus invented.

The :paper 41, shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1 is in position to receive the ground meat to be formed into the patty. The individual papers are shifted from a lile or stack 14 onto the supporting frame indicated in general by the reference numeral 15. This supporting frame 15 comprises a series of bars 16 which extend transversely of the conveyor belt 22 in spaced apart relation with a larger opening or space 11, between said bars at substantially the midpoint of the supporting structure. The transverse bars 1S have their outer ends each joined to a longitudinal member or bar 16 having a depending leg 19. The leg 19 has face contact with the ver tical arm 3D of an angle bracket 8| secured to the table I5 through its horizontal arm 82.

The supporting frame "I5 is positioned above the conveyor belt 22 a distance to permit the ground meat ball il?. from the scoop to pass freely thereunder and since Hamburg steaks are made to diierent sizes, requiring different quantities of meat, the said frame 15 is adjustable toward and from the conveyor` belt 22. To accomplish this adjustment the vertical arm 8B of the bracket 8| is provided with an elongated aperture 84 through which passes the clamp bolt B5 into a tapped aperture in the leg 19.

The stack 'iii of individual papers 41 is disposed on a shelf 2t behind the table I5 and which shelf, as seen in Fig. l, has its longitudinal axis angularly disposed to the longitudinal axis of the table I5 for a purpose to be made clear. The shelf 86 may be supported relative to the table in any suitable or desirable manner preferably with the shelf at least as high above the table I5 and conveyor 22as the paper support frame 15 is above said table and conveyor, for example, as shown in the drawings, by the arm 81. In order to prevent disarrangement of the papers 41 from the stack 14 the shelf is provided at its rear with a rail 83 and at its one end with a second rail 89.

The individual papers 41 are removed from the stack 'Ill automatically by one or more friction iingers or pickers 9U and 9| carried by the outer end of an arm 92. The arm 92 is secured to cross member 93 to have their axes in a definite angular relation and which connectionV may be accomplished in any suitable or desirable manner as by bracket Sli. The cross member or cross bar 93 is pivoted at 95 intermediate its ends to a post 96 upstanding from table I5. The post 96 may be secured to the table in any suitable or desirable manner as by bracket 91. The othel end of the cross bar 93 has a pivotal connection at 93 with the free end of a connecting rod 99. As seen most clearly in Fig. l), the connecting rod 99 is rotatably mounted at |09 eccentrically of a disc IGI in the manner of an eccentric crank. The disc IUI is secured in any suitable or desirable manner to the flattening mechanism driving shaft #i8 as by keying the same thereto or bolting to the pulley 56.

By reference particularly to Figs. l, 2, 9 and l0, it will be appreciated that with the shaft 48 rotating in counterclockwise direction the connecting rod 99 will be actuated to the left, during the rst half of a revolution of the disc IUI, for oscillating the cro-ss arm S3 in counter-clockwise direction and thereby swing the arm 92 from the solid line -position thereof to the phantom line position of Fig. 1. This movement 0f the arm 92 through the friction fingers or pickers 9D and SI moves or slides the uppermost paper 41 from the stack 1li onto the support frame 15. Thearm 92 exerts a slight pressure on the uppermost paper through the friction ngers or pickers and to accomplish this the upper surface of the post 96 is rounded or arched as at H32 and the cross bar p-ivot 95 passes through an enlarged aperture H33 in the said cross bar 93. The operation of these parts is as follows, the disc IBI rotating clockwise, as seen in Fig. l0, counter clockwise as seen in Fig. 2, tends to elevate the pivot or crank Ill!) thereby tending to raise the connecting rod 99. The connecting rod acting on one end of the cross bar 93, tends to rock the said cross bar in a counter-clockwise direction about the pivot as seen in Fig. 9,

z and actually does so to the extent permitted by the clearance of the pivot aperture 33. `This action of the cross bar S3 causes the arm 92 to be depressed so that its friction ngers or pickers 9) and QI grip or press against the uppermost paper 41 of the stack. When the disc I!!! reaches the end of a half revolution, the arm 92 is in its phantom line position. The disc IDI in going through its second half revolution reacts oppositely through its crank pin or pivot mit and connecting rod Q9 thereby tending to reversely oscillate the cross bar 93 and actually eiect the raising of the arm 92 to a point to pass above the paper stack 1li. Continued ro tation of the disc lill continues the operation of the arm 92 as above described to deposit a single paper from the stack onto the frame I5 for each rotation of the disc I0 I.

To assist in preventing the discharge or transfer ci more than one sheet of paper l1 at a time, the shelf has upstanding from its front edge a pairoflllight-springs lill and m which hold back'the'stack'butdo not interfere with the frictionalpressing or gripping' action between the grippe'rs'Ql and 9i and the paper sheet While a transferis taking place.V To further assist in maintaining the stack -in proper position a light weight is placed on top of the stack comprising a-hold-down rollerl tilt. The hold down roller iisfreely rotatable and'any suitable or desirable'ineans may beV employed to keep same in position while imposing no restraint against movement of the`paper by the arm 92 and its pickers-.f1 The-means shown inthe drawings'for thispuifposecomprise a bracket itl' carried by the-shel and-having a guide lEl at its upper end through which'a stem lefreely passes. The stern? IBS has at its'lower end a forked head il@ carryingr an axle' lll on which the hold down roller Il d is freelyrota-table.

After-'a--paper sheet il is deposited on the support 'l5-the operatorplaces a scoopor quantity vof ground meat 'd3 thereon over the enlarged space 'Vi inthe support frame. The weight of theground'meat carries the paper with it through thesaid space "il vto the conveyor belt 22 therebelow. As pointed out above, that paper sheet 41is'large enough to cover the meat and the action of the meat and paper dropping onto the conveyor belt 22, causes the covering-portion of the paper to be disposed Vnormal to the belt and to'rbe' so ypositioned by the adjacent transverse bar'f'i as illustrated in'Fig. ll. The conveyor beitbeing constantly driven carries the ground meatV and paper toward the nattening mechanism beneath the transverse bars l5. As the ground meat' passes beneath'these 'bars le, the"covering portion oi'the paper is folded thereabove. If the masher or flattening-mechanism were located adjacent the support frame l5, the ground meat with'its paperin covering position would immediately be pressed into engagement, but to permit an inspection and Aobservation of the movement of these parts", the mechanism ed' is somewhatrem'oved fromv the support frame le and mea-nsare provided to insure the covering portion of the paper remaining in position and preventing this portion of thepaper from assuming itsV natural flat position until the mashing or flattening mechanism is reached.

Accordingly, the mashing orY flattening unit ed has secured to the forward ends of its'side members` and extending transversely of 4the belt 22, a rod H2 to which one end of a guide or paper hold down member l i3 is attached. The other end ofthe guide M3 is attached to the nearest of the transverse bars'l and the guide extends longitudinally of the conveyor belt 22 Vsubstantially down its longitudinal center as illustrated most clearly in Fig. l. The action or operation of the guide 89 is clearly illustrated in Fig. ll and' holds the covering half of the paper of successive ground meat and paper units in position until they enter the masher and attening'unit throat.

As is well known, ground meat, due to its inherent moisture is slightly sticky and this characteristic may be taken advantage of in holding the covering portion of the paper sheet tl to the vground meat while being carried to the masher or flattening mechanism. This is accomplished by the modified construction illustra-ted in Fig. 12, providing one of bars 'it with aloose roller liti and adjusting the paper supporting frame l5 to the position that the ground meat'withits cover paper thereabove is engaged by the' lonerr eti-'instead of passing'fnenyftherell under asabove 'deseribedlf-l v'Ihefguide` or paper hold down memberAv H3 may be'ret'ained4 asav safeguarda'gainstthe covering paper becoming loosened from the' ground meat and tendingto iatten out.

From the foregoingit will now be appreciatedv there'has been provided a machine for producing Hamburg'steak patties that meets the objects initially'- set forth. Y

What is claimed'isf Y 1. In a device ofthe classdescribed, the combination of a supporting table, a constantly` opsheet supporting' frame abovtne conveyorfb'e'lt adapted to support apaper sheet onavhic'htheV ground meat is AVdeposited, said papersheet sup-` porting frame hav`ing"an openingtherein to permit the ground meat to fall through onto'thev conveyorfbelt with aportion or said paper; sheet' r betweenit and the conveyor belt, 'and means tad'- jacent said paper vsheet supporting frameopening for'folding the remaining portion of the-paper sheetV onto the 'ground' meat.

2. ln a devicefof the class described, the combination of' a supporting table; a constantly'operative conveyorbelt on said table fortrans# porting a quantity of ground meat, aiatteningV mechanism on said table to which the ground meat is conveyed, said ground'meat being adapted to beenclosed by asingle sheet oi paper, a'paper sheet supporting frame-above the conveyorbelt adapted to support the paper sheet on. which the ground meat is deposited, said paper sheet supporting frame having an opening therein to per-Y mit the ground meat to fall through-'ontothe' conveyor belt with a portion of -said paper sheet between it and the conveyorV belt, and 'means adjacent said paper sheet supporting frame openingfor folding the remaining portion of the paper sheet onto the ground meat," the' paper sheet supporting frame and-the flattening mechanism being remote from oneanother, and means between said sheet 'supporting frame and iiattening mechanism for retaining the folded portion ofthe paper sheet in folded position vwhile'being transported to the flatteningmechanism.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination ofa supporting table, a constantly operi-ative conveyor belt Von said table for transporting a quantity of ground meat, a nattening mechanism on said ltable to which the ground meat is conveyed, said ground meat being adapted to be enclosed by a single sheet of paper, a paper sheet supporting frame above the conveyor belt adapted to support a paper sheet on which the ground meat is deposited, means vfor mounting said paper sheet supporting frame on the supporting table for adjustment toward and from the conveying belt, said paper sheet'svupporting frame having'an opening therein to permit'the ground meat to fall through onto the conveyor belt with a portion of said paper sheet between it and the conveyor belt, and means adjacent said paper sheet supporting frame opening for folding the remaining portion of the paper sheet onto the ground meat.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a supporting table, a Constantly operative Yconveyor belt on said table for transportingv a quantity of ground meat, aflattening mechanism on said table to which the ground meat is conveyed, said ground meat being adapted to be enclosed by a single sheet of paper, a paper sheet supporting frame above the conveyor belt adapted to support a paper sheet on which the ground meat is deposited, said paper sheet supporting frame having an opening therein to permit the ground meat to fall through onto the conveyor belt with a portion of said paper sheet between it and the conveyor belt, said quantity of ground meat having height above the conveyor belt and means adjacent said paper sheet supporting frame opening spaced above the conveyor belt a distance loss than the ground meat height for folding the remaining portion of the paper sheet onto the ground meat, and pressing the said covering portion of the paper sheet into engagement with the meat.

5. In a device of the class described the combination of a supporting table, a constantly operative conveyer belt on said table for transporting a quantity of ground meat, a flattening mechanism on said table through which the ground meat is conveyed, said ground meat being adapted to be enclosed by a single sheet of paper, a paper sheet supporting frame above the conveyer belt adapted to support a paper sheet on which the ground meat is deposited, said paper sheet supporting frame having an opening therein to permit the ground meat to fall through onto the conveyer belt with a portion of said paper sheet between said ground meat and the conveyor belt, said quantity of ground meat having height above the conveyer belt, and a roller adjacent said paper sheet supporting frame opening spaced above the conveyer belt a distance less than the ground meat height for folding the remaining portion of the paper onto the ground meat and pressing the said covering portion of the paper sheet into engagement with the meat.

6. In a device of the `class described the combination of a supporting table, a constantly operative conveyer belt on said table for transporting a quantity of ground meat, a flattening mechanism on said table through which the ground meat is conveyed, said ground meat being adapted to be enclosed by a single sheet of paper, a paper sheet supporting frame above the conveyor belt adapted to support a paper sheet on which the ground meat is deposited, said paper sheet supporting frame having an opening therein to permit the ground meat to fall through onto the conveyor belt with a portion of said paper sheet between said ground meat and the conveyor belt, an arm associated with said paper sheet supporting frame located between the frame opening and flattening mechanism, and means on said arm spaced above said conveyor belt a distance less than the ground meat height for folding the remaining portion of the paper onto the ground e meat and pressing the said covering portion of the paper sheet into engagement with the meat.

'7. ln a device of the class described the combination of a supporting table, a constantly operative conveyor belt on said table for transporting a quantity of ground meat, a flattening mechanism on said table through which the ground meat is conveyed, said ground meat being adapted to be enclosed by a `single sheet of paper, a paper sheet supporting frame above the conveyor belt adapted to support a paper sheet on which the ground meat is deposited, said paper sheet supporting frame having an opening therein to permit the ground meat to fall through onto the conveyor belt with a portion of paper sheet between said ground meat and the conveyor belt, an arm associated with said paper sheet supporting frame located between the frame opening and attening mechanism, and a roller on said arm spaced above said conveyor belt `a distance less than the ground meat height for folding the remaining portion of the paper onto the ground meat and pressing the said covering portion of the paper sheet into engagement with the meat.

8. In a device of the class described the combination of a supporting table, a constantly operative conveyer belt on said table for transporting quantity of ground meat, a attening mechanism on said table through which the ground meat is conveyed, said ground meat being adapted to be enclosed by a single sheet of paper, a paper sheet supporting frame above the conveyor belt adapted to support a paper sheet on which the ground meat is deposited, said paper sheet supporting frame having an opening therein to permit the ground meat to fall through onto the conveyor belt with a portion of said paper sheet between said ground meat and the conveyor belt, an arm associated with said paper sheet supporting frame located between the frame opening and flattening mechanism, means on said arm spaced above said conveyer belt a distance less than the ground meat height for folding the remaining portion of the paper onto the ground meat and pressing the said covering portion of the paper sheet into engagement with the meat, and means for mounting the frame, associated arm and pressing means on the supporting table for adjustment toward and from the conveyer belt to position said pressing means a distance less than the ground meat height above the conveyor belt.

FRANK StELSAESSER.

REFERENCES CTED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,260,780 Holly Oct. 2:8, 1941 2,299,314 Elesh et al Oct. 20, 1942 2,386,775 Balzarini Oct. 16, 1945 

